Illuminated sign



June 13, 1933. F, B, CRQSBY 1,913,585

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Jan. 19, 1931 f2 55H HKU@ if ATTORNEY l Patented June 13, 1933 j. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N FRANKB. oRsBY,-or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ILLUMINATED SIGN j Application filed January 19,' 1931. Serial 170.509,772.

j This invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs or display devices, and Vit .has reference particularly to devices of that character wherein signs, sign forming characters, or displays are placed on translucent material in front of lights whereby the dis-` `prising a frame member within which signs or displays may be interchangeably used, and back of which is an arcuate reflector whereby the light from a lamp may be concentrated on the display so as to effectively illuminate it; `the display in this instance being on translucent or transparent material and supported between pieces Aof glass,` Celluloid or other -mounted on the reflector plate. back of the sign or display, with a glass plate interposed various details of construction, and in the combination of parts, and in their mode' of operation, as will hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the `improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display sign constructed in accordance with the present invention. f v j Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same,

5 taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

V plate.

transparent material, and the lamp being Fig.` Sis a horizontal section on of line 3--3 of Figure 2. j

Fig. 4 is a perspective yview illustrating the means of supportfor a corner ofthe reflector the.v plane l l l n Fig.u5 is a sectional view illustrating the disposition ofzthe displayjsheet between transparent supports; y

Referring `inore'in detail to thedrawing- In a preferred `form of construction the 60. displaydevice consistsof aframe structure of rectangular form made up of oppositeend i rails 1 and 2 joined by upper and lower rails 3 and 4. Fixed to the back side of the frame, and extended horizontally across it in paral- 65. lel relation are supports or j guide bars `5. These guides are spaced a art as desired and have grooves 6 formed engthwise thereof in their upperand lower edges for containing and supportingwithin them, edges of trans- 7.0 parent panels 7 and Sbetween whichthe dis-` play sheet9 orsign is supported. ,j A

l The display sheet is a transparenter translucent-member, such as paper or celluloid on which the letters of a sign,or a display are painted` or printed.` The `two supporting `parts `7` and 8 with vthe display sheet 9 between them, as showninlFigures 2 and 5, are slipped into the grooves of two adjacent bars 5 and are thereby held properly in position. The 3Q display character may be individually formed or may be made in strips; it being preferred 1n some instances to provide the individual letters or characters so that various words may be formed and the display or sign fre- 35, quently changed. If a display orword does notfill the entire space provided between the guide bars, the space may be blocked off at the ends by the use of cardboard or other illing pieces as designated at 12. The displays .9o l

are held in the slots by `plates 134 pivotally fixed to the ends of the frame by screws 14. These plates extend across the ends of the grooves, as shown best in Figure 3 and may be adjusted out of retaining position when it is desired to remove, change or alter the display or sign.` Y

Supported back of the frame is a reflector plate 15 which, at its opposite ends and near upper and lower edges, is seated within supporting hooks 16 fixed to the frame pieces. Preferably, the edge of the plate would be notched out, as at 17 in Figure 4, to receive the hooks and this effectively and solidly holds the plate in place by reason of its tendency to straighten out.

The reflector is arcuately curved so as to be spaced rearwardly of .the display, and fixed to its inner side is a clamp 18 for holding an electric lamp 19V for illuminating the sign or display. The display is protected from heat of the lamp by the use of a plate of glass 2O supported by brackets 2l`from the cross bars 5; the glass being interposed directly between the lainp and display.

'A colored effect may be produced by use of colored glass or colored bulbs, lor by use of a colored ',display.

In this construction, the reflector plate 20 serves as a support for holding the frame upright. Italso directs the light rays-against the back side ofthedis'pl'ay to effectively illuminate it. A

' Such devices may be made in various sizes,

proportions and shapes without, departing from the spirit of the invention.' rThey provide a very attractive andconvenientway of displaying signs `and are very useful especially for window or counter signs.' 1

Having thus described my invention what I claim asnew therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A display `device'coinprising a frame structure, a plurality of'transverse guiderbars fixed in parallel, spaced relation within the frame; said bars having longitudinally eX- tending grooves in'thei'r top and lower edges, sign or display forming characters removl ably-supported between thebars in* the said 46 grooves, hooks fixed in opposedv relation to the la-ack Iside of the frame at'. its opposite sides, areflector' plate having its opposite end edges supported by said hooks, aclamp mounted-mithereflector, a lainp removably applied to the clamp to illuminate the characters, and a transparentvplate supported fmin the frame between the lamp and sign characters Vto protect the sign from heat of the. lamp.

50 Signed at -Seattle, VVashington, this 18th day of Octoberl,[l930.

` V 'Y Y v FRANK B. CROSBY. 

